Hot water dispenser



Jan 7, 1958 H. R. KARLEN HOT WATER DISPENSER Filed Feb. 14, 1956 Jac JI ./QBY IJLNKVIENTOR..

jf@ f5; 3. f6 Jag Unite States iPatent O i HOT WATER DISPENSER Harvey R. Karien, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cory Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application February 14, 1956, Serial No. 565,371

6 Claims. (Cl. 21938) This invention relates to a hot water dispenser and in particular to a hot Water dispenser of the open lto atmos phere type.

in devices for heating liquids, such as water, it has been found desirable to utilize tanks which are vented to the atmosphere to preclude the possibility of an explosion or excessive pressure due to overheating the liquid therein. A serious diiculty, however, arises in the dispensers now found inthe art of the open to atmosphere type, in that undesired dripping of the liquid often occurs due to the change in the volume of the liquid during the heating process.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improved hot water dispenser.

A further object is to provide a hot water dispenser of the open to atmosphere type which is non-dripping.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a non-dripping hot water dispenser wherein expansion space is automatically provided for the increased volume of the heated liquid whenever flow from the tank is stopped.

Still another object is to provide a hot water dispenser with a tank having an outlet at the top and an inlet at lthe bottom, and means for increasing the total volume of the tank below the outlet whenever liquid is not Ibeing admitted through the inlet into the tank, with the increased volume being suicient to accommodate any expansion of the liquid in lthe tank due to the heating thereof.

A yet further object is to provide such a hot water dispenser wherein the volume increasing means comprises a `diaphragm sealingly carried across an opening in the top of the tank and means for extending the diaphragm downwardly into the tank to below the outlet whenever flow through the inlet is allowed.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an isometric elevational view of a hot water dispenser embodying the invention, with parts thereof broken away and with the electrical wiring shown diagrammatically;

Figure 2 is a reduced, fragmentary sectional view of i the upper portion of the tank and the control means in the 011 position; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view similar to Figure 2 but with the parts thereof in the on position.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as dis closed in the drawings, a hot water dispenser is seen to comprise a generally cylindrical tank having a cover 11 and an outlet 12 through the tank immediately below the cover. Extending into the tank 10 superjacent its bottom is a cold water inlet 1.3, and a heating coil 14 disposed a small distance above inlet 13 and adapted to heat water in tank 10 to the desired temperature. For yautomatically controlling coil 14 to `obtain the desired temperature, a thermostat 15 is provided extending into tank 10 between coil 14 and inlet 13. Means for con- ICC trolling the ow `of water through tank 10 are provided including an operating mechanism 16 carried on cover 11 and having manually operable handle 16a. Mechanism 16 further includes an electric switch 16b for electrically controlling the coil 17a of a solenoid `operated valve 17 for regulating the flow of water into inlet 13. Thus, by regulating the liquid ilow into the tank while maintaining outlet 12 open at all times, the dispenser of this invention is made to be vented to atmosphere at all times.

Operably associated with mechanism 16 is means for adjusta-bly varying the internal volume of tank 10, cornprising, in the illustrative embodiment of the drawings, a ilexible diaphragm 18 carried in tank 10 by cover 11 and arranged to `be extended downwardly when desired by operating mechanism 16 whenever mechanism 16 is in the on position allowing flow of water through tank 1t) from inlet 13 and out `of outlet 12. Means 19 are provided for interconnecting the electrical components of the hot water dispenser and to connect them to a suitable electrical power source (not shown). A housing Zit may be provided for protectively enclosing the mechanisms of the hot water dispenser and for providing an esthetic appearance to the device.

Tank 10 is provided at its open upper end 10a with a radially outwardly extending flange 10b which is adapted to support peripherally the disc shaped cover 11 with screw means 11a xedly securing the cover thereto.

Outlet 12 is preferably provided with a longitudinally extending inner portion 12a having its inner open end 12b very close to cover 11, but at all times being spaced from diaphragm 18 so that tank 10 is always open to the atmosphere.

Inlet 13 comprises a tubular flow conducting member having an annular inner end 13a provided with a plurality of downwardly extending orifices 13b adapted to effect a non-turbulent, easy ejectment `of the water into the bottom of the tank 10. Heating coil 14, which may be of any suitable construction for use in submerged liquid applications, is generally U-shaped and is arranged to extend in a plane generally parallel to the plane of inlet end 13a so that water passing into the bottom of tank .ttl and moving upwardly therethrough will 4be uniformly heated in passing coil 14. Extending outwardly from tank 10 are the heating coil terminals 14a and 14a.

Thermostat 15 may be of any construction suitable for use in submerged applications and has its sensing element 15a disposed centrally of `tank 1t) and intermediate inlet end 13a and heating coil 14. The switch element 15b of thermostat 1S is disposed exteriorly of tank 10 and is provided with suitable terminals 15e and 15C.

Solenoid valve 17 is of typical construction comprising coil 17a having suitable terminals Zlb and 17/1 and valve element 17e which is adapted to regulate the flow of water from a supply line 21 into inlet 13. A bracket 17a' may be provided to secure the solenoid valve .1.7 to housing 20.

Electrical connections 19 comprise a 4three wire leadin cord 19a having a plug 19h adapted to be electrically and mechanically connected to a suitable power supply receptacle (not shown). Lead-in wire A is connected to terminal 17b of the solenoid coil 17a. Terminal 17b of coil 17a is connected to incoming line B through switch 16h so that the potential between lines A and B is applied to coil 17a whenever switch 1611 is closed. lncoming line B is further electrically connected to terminals 14a of heating coil 14 and to terminal 19d of a signal light 19C provided in housing 20 for indicating the application `of electrical potential across the heating coil 14. Terminal 14a of heating coil 14 and terminal 19d of the signal light are interconnected thereby connected the signal light in parallel across the heating coil; heating coil terminal Mrz is further connected electrically to terminal e of the thermostat 15 and terminal llSc of the thermostat is connected to one terminal 197 of a single throw switch 19e having its opposite terminal 19j' c011- nected electrically to line C of cord 19a. Thus, coil 14 and signal light 19e are connected mutually in parallel and in series with the thermostat switch-element 15b and control switch 19e across lines B and C, switch 19e being mounted in housing adjacent signal light 19C for manual control of the electrical heating coil circuit.

Diaphragm 13 comprises a flexible sheet extending across the tank upper end 10a. The circumferential edge lha of diaphragm 18 is clamped between llange lllb and cover lll thereby securely holding it directly below cover 11. Centrally located in cover 11 is an opening 11b in which is received an annular sealing gasket llc through which extends for adjustable longitudinal positioning a cylindrical operating rod los having its inner end 16C Atixedly secured to the center portion of diaphragm 18. The `outer end of rod loc is enlarged at 16d and a spring 16e is mount-ed on the rod to yextend outwardly from cover l1 against enlarged end 16d to urge the rod outwardly of the tank and the diaphragm upwardly toward cover il.

Operating mechanism 16 further includes a shaft 16f disposed laterally above cover 11 and rotatably carried thereon by a fixed support 16g and an adjustable support 16h. One end le," of shaft 31.61E extends through housing 20 and handle loa is secured fast thereto. Intermediate supports 16g and 16h, shaft 16j' is provided with an eccentric cam 161', iixedly secured thereto, and adapted to cooperate with enlarged rod end 16d to elect longitudinal movement of rod 16e by rotation of shaft 16j. By adjusting support t6/z, the extent of the rod movement downwardly may be accurately controlled. Cam 161' is further arranged to close the switch 1611 whenever rod end 16e' is positioned to extend diaphragm 18 downwardly into tank 10.

When diaphragm 18 is extended downwardly into tank 10, diaphragm central portion 13b, which may be reinforced with suitable rigid plates 18c, preferably made of metal, is disposed somewhat below the level of outlet end 12b, thereby displacing water in the tank below outlet end l2!) while allowing flow through the outlet 12.

ln utilizing the hot water dispenser of the invention, tank lib is rst completely lled with water by rotating shaft idf to the position where cam 161' closes the contacts of switch lob and applies potential across solenoid coil lila to open valve element 17C and allow water to flow from supply line 2l into inlet 13. Water flows outwardly through orifices 13b into the lower portion of tank lil in a smooth non-turbulent manner to lill the tank up to the level of the outlet opening 12b through which the water may discharge from the tank. With operating mechanism lr6 in the position, as above described, cam loi also acts to extend diaphragm 18 downwardly into tank 1G', as best seen in Figure 3. Flow of water into tank Siti is discontinued by manually operating handle 16a to rotate shaft lo]c and cam 161' thereon to a position where switch 16h is opened and concurrently diaphragm 18 is moved by action of spring 6e to a position directly subjacent cover l ci Figure 2. In the inserted position of Figure 3, diaphragm t8 acts to displace a volume of tank i@ below the level of outlet opening 12b; upon stopping the flow of water into the tank and withdrawing the diaphragm from below opening 12b, the level of water in the tank rccedes to a point below the outlet opening iZb thereby positively preventing any leakage of water from the outlet although the tank is vented to atmosphere continuously. The amount of displacement effected by the insertion of diaphragm ltd into the `tank below the outlet opening level is preferably made great enough to accommodate any expansion of the water in the tank due tothe heating thereof. l have found that a displacement of a volume sucient to accommodate approximately five ounces of water is suflicient to accommodate the expansion `of nine pints of water when heated from 32 F. to 212 F., so that for example, in a tank 1b designed to heat nine pints of water, a displacement of slightly more than tive ounces of water by diaphragm 1S when fully inserted into the tank, lcompletely prevents any undesired discharge of water from outlet 12.

Heating of the water in tank 10 is effected by closing switch 19e which, as the thermostat switch element 15b is normally closed, allows the potential between incoming lines B and C to be applied across the heating coil 14. As signal light 19C is connected in parallel with the heating coil 14, it is simultaneously lighted, acting as an indication that the coil 14 is heating the water in the tank. When the temperature of the water reaches the point for which the sensing element 15a `of the thermostat 15 is set, thermostat switch element 15b opens thereby opening the circuit to the coil 14 and discontinuing heating of the water in the tank. At the same time, signal light 19C is extinguished, indicating to the operator of the dispenser that the water has reached the desired temperature. As indicated above, the expansion of the water due to the heating thereof, is accommodated in the upper portion of the tank 10 by the removal of diaphragm 18 so that the level of the heated water will remain below the level of outlet inner end 12b.

To obtain a discharge of heated water from outlet 12, handle 16a is rotated so as to again cause cam 161 to close switch 1615 and, by opening solenoid valve 17, introduce additional water into the bottom of tank 10 through inlet 13. The introduction of additional water into tank lh causes the heated water at the top thereof to be discharged through inner end i221 and outwardly from outlet When a suficient quantity of water is discharged, handle ,loa is moved to the off position where switch lob is opened and diaphragm 18 is withdrawn from the extended position. Where the greater bulk of the water in the tank itil is at an elevated temperature prior to the withdrawal of diaphragm 18, a correspondingly less expansion occurs during the subsequent heating. As this is the normal condition in using the tank, the water level ordinarily is considerably below the outlet end 12b.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many moditications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as delined in the appended claims.

.l claim:

l. A hot liquid dispenser comprising: a tank having an upper end; an outlet from the tank near said upper end; means for admitting liquid into the tank below said upper end; means for heating liquid in the tank; and means defining a bounding portion of the tank and extendable into the interior of the tank for displacing a volume of liquid in the tank below said outlet.

2. A hot liquid dispenser comprising: a tank having an upper end with an opening therethrough; an outlet from the tank proximate said upper end; a diaphragm sealingly across said opening; means for admitting liquid into the tank below the top; means for heating liquid in the tank; and means for extending said diaphragm into said tank to below said outlet.

3. A hot water dispenser comprising: a tank having a bottom and an upper end; an outlet near said upper end; an inlet tube at said tank bottom having a plurality of inlet orilices, and means for connecting said tube to a cold water supply line; a valve for controlling flow of cold water to said inlet tube; a heating coil adjacent said tube; a thermostat adjacent said heating coil for controlling said heating coil; a displacement element; and manually operable means disposed substantially completely exteriorly of the tank for concurrently inserting said displacement element into the tank below said outlet and actuating said valve to permit flow of cold water into said tank.

4. A liquid dispenser comprising: a tank having an inlet, and an outlet above said inlet and venting said tank continuously to atmosphere; and a diaphragm adjustably extendable into said tank below said outlet to alter the bounding configuration of the tank, thereby to displace a volume of liquid in said tank.

5. A hot water dispenser comprising: a tank having an inlet, and an outlet above said inlet; a solenoid valve for regulating ow of Water through said inlet; means for heating water in the tank; a diaphragm above said outlet; and an operating mechanism outside said tank having a switch and a diaphragm engaging member arranged simultaneously to actuate said valve to admit water to the tank and extend said diaphragm to below said outlet.

6. A drip proof water dispenser comprising: a tank having an open top, an open outlet near the top, and an inlet below the outlet; a ilexible diaphragm across the top; a Cover over the diaphragm and secured to the tank, said cover having a peripheral portion sealingly clamping the diaphragm to the tank; and means on the cover for extending the diaphragm into the tank to below the outlet whenever water is delivered to the tank through the inlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,802,316 Bree Apr. 21, 1931 1,859,397 Johnson et al. May 24, 1932 2,048,068 Haussauer July 21, 1936 2,110,251 Wolcott Mar. 8, 1938 2,616,023 Meyer Oct. 28, 1952 2,720,581 Lorenzetti Oct. 11, 1955 

